There was a later Ledger, mentioned before, into which Mr. Hull carried
the closing accounts of the war. These accounts, however, have little
except names and wages, with very few additional facts. We remember that
while these accounts of Mr. Hull are, by far, the most complete of any
existing roll of early colonial soldiers, they give little besides the
facts of services and wages. In the dingy old documents contained in the
Mass. Archives, are many petitions, and other references, which speak of
almost incredible hardships, of manly fortitude and devotion, which lift
many a name here, out of the dull lists of "Military Service,"
and up into the ranks of heroes and patriots. Many such references appear
in the foregoing pages, like that of Widow Mary Turner after Capt.
Turner's death; that of Lieut. John Wyman and others. Many others whose
names are not here, appear in the old documents referred to; like that of
Benjamin Rockwood (Rocket), who, in a later Ledger, has credit for
Military Service, in 1677. In Mass. Archives, vol. 72, pp. 622-624,
several original documents are found showing that he was a soldier in
Philip's war, was in service at the Westward, and then was sent, under
Capt. Swett, to the Eastward; and at Blackpoynt, was twice severely
wounded, and was confined in Salem Hospital for "a quarter of a
year." A memorial of his townsmen testifies to the facts, and other
evidence shows that he had "two bullets in his thigh." Much more
is found about this last case, which, being typical of the times and men,
doubtless had many parallels, if we knew all.